How to Date a Dragon(44)
“I—I guess so.”
“So, because Boston is important to the Council, I like to keep the place in balance and harmony. You know, four seasons and all that shit. Rain and snow are necessary. That doesn’t mean I like to live in them.”
Drake couldn’t help wondering if he had fallen asleep on Bliss’s couch and was having some kind of freaky dream. What had he had for lunch? Oh, yeah. Tacos. Maybe they were a little too spicy.
“I can tell by your vacant look that you’re not convinced.”
“I didn’t say that. I’m just… reserving judgment.”
She jammed her hands on her hips and leaned toward him. “I’m not here to be judged. You are.”
“Me? What did I do?”
Her expression and posture relaxed. “Maybe nothing,” she said in a calmer voice. “But you can’t deny that fires have been plaguing Boston and that dragons have an affinity for fire.”
Drake was shocked speechless by the implication for a moment. “You think I’m setting the fires?”
She began to pace with her hands clasped behind her back. “You have to admit, it’s more than coincidental that your uncle was the one who set the Chicago fire. That’s when I took your family’s fire away. You probably explained it as evolution.” She laughed.
“That was you?”
“Of course, but let’s not get off track. I happen to know Boston was your uncle’s next target, and he wasn’t about to be stopped by his lack of dragon fire. He actually captured a young fire mage to do the job for him.”
He knew his uncle had been involved in some dirty dealings, but Drake had helped his detective friend Nick put the guy away, and then his uncle had a heart attack in prison. Drake didn’t even attend his funeral. So why would this… goddess blame him?
She stopped pacing and tapped her lower lip as if reasoning something out. “Now, what could I take away to make sure he didn’t succeed?”
He didn’t answer right away.
“I won’t wait for your poor little pea brain to figure it out. I’ll tell you. I took away your family’s immortality.”
“Is that why my mother died after only a minor accident?”
“Yup. It turns out your family isn’t bulletproof anymore.”
“Are you saying I’m no longer fireproof either? I could burn up and die in any fire I try to put out?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Dragon clans are connected, so what I’m saying is, be careful if you want to survive.”
Holy shit. That explains how my family had lasted for hundreds of years but suddenly small things like heart attacks and accidents managed to kill them off. Prior to that, Drake’s great-grandfather had been beheaded… and now the guy who did it was being called a saint, just because he knew how to kill an immortal.
“I see the wheels spinning in that head of yours. So, if you have anything to tell me, I suggest you do it now. I want to know who’s responsible for setting my city on fire, damn it!”
Drake’s knees quivered and felt weak. “Y—yes. I may have some information. May I sit down, please?”
She smiled smugly. “At last. A bit of respect.” She pointed to a spot on the floor between them where a small bistro table with two chairs suddenly appeared.
Chapter 10
Drake tried to hold her steely gaze and fight off the urge to hyperventilate. It wasn’t every day a guy was dragged off to the Supernatural Council, accused of crimes he didn’t commit, and then told he’s suddenly mortal!
“First off, did you know I’m a firefighter?”
“I haven’t really been paying attention to you… until now.”
He heard the veiled threat loud and clear. It was time to clear up some of these misunderstandings. “Goddess, I’ve dedicated my life to fighting fires. I’ve witnessed the destructive power dragons possess, and it hasn’t filled me with a sense of superiority or imperviousness. If anything, it’s given me a sense of responsibility. I’ve never used my fire for anything but light and heat in the safety of a rocky cave.”
She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. “Say I believe you… What’s going on out there?” She pointed a long, tapered finger at the bottom of the glass dome.
“A female dragon is visiting Boston. I think she’s from the islands.”
Mother Nature’s eyes narrowed. “Which islands? I made over a million of them.”
“I don’t know, specifically. Somewhere in the Caribbean. She has an accent… maybe Jamaican. Her hair is…”
Gaia held up one hand. “Don’t tell me… black with a white streak in her widow’s peak?”